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Agricultural Business and Management Degree

77 schools compared · Average earnings $48,076/yr

Students study the business side of agriculture, including farm financial management, agricultural marketing, commodity trading, and supply chain logistics. Graduates typically pursue careers as farm managers, agricultural loan officers, commodity traders, and agribusiness executives. This major combines business acumen with agricultural knowledge to prepare leaders for the food and farming economy.

What Agricultural Business and Management Graduates Do

Your degree in Agricultural Business and Management places you at the intersection of the field and the front office. Many graduates become wholesale sales representatives, traveling to farms and processing plants to negotiate contracts for everything from feed to new technology. Others work as farmers or agricultural managers, where your day involves analyzing market data, managing budgets, and making the final call on crop and livestock strategies. You could also begin as a first-line supervisor, directly managing crews for planting, harvesting, and daily operations.

Career progression often means moving from an assistant manager or sales associate to leading a regional sales team or running an entire farm operation. Artificial intelligence is significantly changing the landscape. Sales and administrative support roles face high AI exposure, as software automates lead generation and scheduling. This means fewer entry-level hires and a greater emphasis on complex negotiation. In contrast, hands-on supervisory roles have low AI exposure, a distinct advantage. While some management roles face headwinds, the need for supervisors of farm workers is growing, offering a resilient career path.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$48,076/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

62/100

AI Automation Risk

High

50% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Agricultural Business and Management graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 398,100 combined openings per year.

Career Path	Salary Range	Openings/yr	Growth	AI Risk
Economics teachers, postsecondary	$119,980 $81K$167K	1,200	+2.1%	48%
Economists	$115,440 $82K$166K	900	+1.2%	61%
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	$87,980 $68K$115K	85,500	-1.3%	37%
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary	$86,350 $64K$123K	800	+4.1%	50%
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	$66,780 $49K$98K	114,800	+0.3%	62%
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers	$66,140 $53K$82K	144,500	-0.3%	49%
Computer user support specialists	$60,340 $48K$77K	40,800	-3.7%	61%
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers	$59,330 $48K$77K	8,500	+2.5%	28%
Farm and home management educators	$58,120 $46K$69K	1,100	-2.5%	37%

Economics teachers, postsecondary

$119,980

$81K $167K

1,200 openings/yr +2.1% growth 48% AI risk

Economists

$115,440

$82K $166K

900 openings/yr +1.2% growth 61% AI risk

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

$87,980

$68K $115K

85,500 openings/yr -1.3% growth 37% AI risk

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary

$86,350

$64K $123K

800 openings/yr +4.1% growth 50% AI risk

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

$66,780

$49K $98K

114,800 openings/yr +0.3% growth 62% AI risk

First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

$66,140

$53K $82K

144,500 openings/yr -0.3% growth 49% AI risk

Computer user support specialists

$60,340

$48K $77K

40,800 openings/yr -3.7% growth 61% AI risk

First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

$59,330

$48K $77K

8,500 openings/yr +2.5% growth 28% AI risk

Farm and home management educators

$58,120

$46K $69K

1,100 openings/yr -2.5% growth 37% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Agricultural Business and Management

Top 20 of 77 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA	75 67–75	$52,778/yr	20.0x
2	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD	72 65–73	$53,081/yr	17.0x
3	California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA	72 64–72	$50,100/yr	24.0x
4	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID	72 65–73	$49,942/yr	35.6x
5	University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE	71 64–72	$61,152/yr	17.9x
6	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, ND	71 64–72	$59,953/yr	15.3x
7	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL	71 64–71	$55,934/yr	12.8x
8	Cornell University Ithaca, NY	70 66–71	$92,163/yr	3.9x
9	University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR	70 63–70	$54,783/yr	16.2x
10	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN	70 63–71	$52,804/yr	16.8x
11	Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX	70 63–71	$50,509/yr	15.7x
12	University of Florida Gainesville, FL	70 63–71	$49,371/yr	23.9x
13	Iowa State University Ames, IA	69 62–70	$53,967/yr	15.4x
14	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI	69 62–70	$49,868/yr	15.7x
15	California State University-Chico Chico, CA	69 62–70	$47,937/yr	20.1x
16	Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX	69 62–70	$47,907/yr	18.0x
17	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN	68 61–69	$53,160/yr	11.4x
18	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR	68 61–68	$52,031/yr	13.2x
19	South Dakota State University Brookings, SD	68 60–68	$51,222/yr	15.9x
20	University of Georgia Athens, GA	68 61–69	$49,611/yr	15.1x
21	University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO	67 60–67	$58,335/yr	11.2x
22	Michigan State University East Lansing, MI	67 60–68	$57,023/yr	10.6x
23	Oregon State University Corvallis, OR	67 60–68	$52,031/yr	12.3x
24	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX	67 60–68	$50,509/yr	12.8x
25	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ	67 59–67	$48,800/yr	12.7x
26	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC	67 60–68	$46,849/yr	17.4x
27	Utah State University Logan, UT	67 59–68	$45,583/yr	17.0x
28	Kansas State University Manhattan, KS	66 59–66	$53,751/yr	12.9x
29	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE	66 59–67	$53,229/yr	13.9x
30	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH	66 58–66	$50,565/yr	12.2x
31	University of Idaho Moscow, ID	66 59–67	$48,338/yr	16.2x
32	Clemson University Clemson, SC	65 58–66	$49,714/yr	10.7x
33	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA	65 57–65	$48,557/yr	10.9x
34	Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO	65 58–66	$48,302/yr	14.2x
35	Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO	65 58–66	$44,418/yr	16.0x
36	Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR	65 57–65	$43,804/yr	18.0x
37	West Texas A & M University Canyon, TX	64 57–65	$52,749/yr	14.0x
38	Auburn University Auburn, AL	64 57–64	$50,936/yr	11.5x
39	Montana State University Bozeman, MT	64 57–65	$50,876/yr	15.5x
40	Fort Hays State University Hays, KS	64 56–64	$47,012/yr	21.0x
41	Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS	64 57–65	$45,821/yr	14.6x
42	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA	64 56–65	$38,272/yr	21.1x
43	University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI	63 56–64	$53,911/yr	14.0x
44	Colorado State University-Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO	63 56–64	$51,292/yr	11.1x
45	Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA	63 56–64	$47,519/yr	36.2x
46	Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX	63 56–64	$45,097/yr	16.7x
47	Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MS	63 55–64	$44,330/yr	15.7x
48	University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, WI	62 55–63	$54,473/yr	15.4x
49	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN	62 54–62	$50,013/yr	12.9x
50	Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN	62 55–63	$49,521/yr	12.4x
51	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK	60 52–61	$45,095/yr	12.4x
52	West Virginia University Morgantown, WV	60 52–60	$37,779/yr	14.8x
53	Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR	59 51–60	$44,810/yr	13.8x
54	Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO	59 51–60	$43,585/yr	13.5x
55	University of Kentucky Lexington, KY	59 51–59	$41,508/yr	10.7x
56	University of Wyoming Laramie, WY	59 52–60	$35,431/yr	19.4x
57	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, CT	58 50–58	$45,435/yr	7.9x
58	University of Connecticut-Avery Point Groton, CT	58 50–58	$45,435/yr	7.9x
59	University of Connecticut-Stamford Stamford, CT	58 50–58	$45,435/yr	7.9x
60	University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Hartford, CT	58 50–58	$45,435/yr	7.9x
61	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL	58 50–58	$40,194/yr	10.6x
62	University of Connecticut Storrs, CT	56 49–57	$45,435/yr	6.6x
63	University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO	56 49–57	$38,998/yr	12.8x
64	Texas State University San Marcos, TX	56 48–56	$37,574/yr	11.5x
65	University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA	55 47–55	$43,834/yr	10.9x
66	University of Delaware Newark, DE	54 46–54	$49,885/yr	6.8x
67	University of Minnesota-Crookston Crookston, MN	53 46–54	$46,845/yr	7.9x
68	University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, AR	53 46–54	$36,543/yr	13.0x
69	Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, AR	52 44–53	$41,325/yr	9.5x
70	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM	52 45–53	$41,268/yr	12.0x
71	Dordt University Sioux Center, IA	49 42–50	$49,230/yr	2.4x
72	Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA	48 40–48	$47,802/yr	1.8x
73	College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO	48 40–48	$41,729/yr	4.8x
74	Wilmington College Wilmington, OH	47 40–48	$41,957/yr	3.4x
75	The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, TN	47 40–48	$36,242/yr	7.9x
76	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR	44 37–44	$31,868/yr	7.8x
77	SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, NY	43 37–44	$31,268/yr	7.9x

Highest Earning Agricultural Business and Management Programs

Schools where Agricultural Business and Management graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	DW Score
Cornell University	$92,163/yr	70
University of Nebraska at Kearney	$61,152/yr	71
North Dakota State University-Main Campus	$59,953/yr	71
University of Missouri-Columbia	$58,335/yr	67
Michigan State University	$57,023/yr	67
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	$55,934/yr	71
University of Arkansas	$54,783/yr	70
University of Wisconsin-Platteville	$54,473/yr	62
Iowa State University	$53,967/yr	69
University of Wisconsin-River Falls	$53,911/yr	63

Best ROI for Agricultural Business and Management

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Agricultural Business and Management.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	DW Score
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College	36.2x	$47,519/yr	63
Brigham Young University-Idaho	35.6x	$49,942/yr	72
California State University-Fresno	24.0x	$50,100/yr	72
University of Florida	23.9x	$49,371/yr	70
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	21.1x	$38,272/yr	64
Fort Hays State University	21.0x	$47,012/yr	64
California State University-Chico	20.1x	$47,937/yr	69
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	20.0x	$52,778/yr	75
University of Wyoming	19.4x	$35,431/yr	59
Arkansas State University	18.0x	$43,804/yr	65

Want to compare two Agricultural Business and Management programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

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Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Agricultural Business and Management offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Agricultural Business and Management graduates earn?

Across 77 schools, Agricultural Business and Management graduates earn an average of $48,076 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $31,268 to $92,163 depending on the school.

What is the AI automation risk for Agricultural Business and Management?

Agricultural Business and Management is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 50% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means some career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.

Which school has the best Agricultural Business and Management program?

Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranks #1 for Agricultural Business and Management with a score of 75/100 and graduate earnings of $52,778/yr.

What's the outlook for a Agricultural Business and Management degree?

On average, Agricultural Business and Management graduates earn 13.6x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →